Cystic acne is a severe form of acne most people wouldn't wish to have.
Unlike whiteheads, blackheads, and pustules, they are very noticeable and can cause the most scarring and damage.
That is why treating cystic acne should not be taken lightly.
What are your treatment options for acne cysts? Read this guide to find out more.
Option 1: Strong Spot Treatments Spot treatments are good for the common pimple or zit, but for acne cysts you will need a strong spot treatment with a higher concentration.
This is because acne cysts are larger in area as well as deeper in the skin.
Instead of reaching out for the usual 2.
5% benzoyl peroxide spot cream, you will have to use a 10% ointment.
And apply it more liberally too - just a small amount may not make it to the deeper areas of skin where the cyst resides.
Because these spot treatments are stronger, a tradeoff is that you might get drier, more irritated skin.
Option 2: Tretinoin Creams Topical solutions that contain tretinoin, retinoic acid, or isotretinoin may work for moderate pimples but may have mixed results for more severe cysts.
Just like spot treatments they help relieve the redness and inflammation in cysts.
This may not be enough for more severe acne, though.
People also report an initial breakout before their effects are fully noticed.
You will also have to keep off the sun when using these - they may make your pimple areas darker and more irritated.
Option 3: Antibiotics Antibiotic creams and ointments kill the bacteria that cause swelling and pus formation in acne cysts and effectively speed up healing.
A downside is that they are relatively more expensive and require a prescription.
With constant use bacteria may also develop a resistance to antibiotics.
This is quite scary as later illnesses (and not just acne) may become harder to treat.
Option 4: Vitamin Supplements For severe cystic acne, vitamin supplements are an effective complement to topical solutions.
These supplements usually contain vitamins to control oil production that causes acne in the first place.
They may also contain other ingredients like zinc and antioxidants to counter inflammation and redness and speed up the skin healing process.
Examples of these are Accutane with vitamin A and Clear5 with vitamin B5.
When used in combination with topical treatments you can get better results within a smaller period of time.
Option 5: Professional Help If your cystic acne is more severe and covers a great part of your face, it is best to see a dermatologist.
Professional treatment may be quite expensive but it is most effective and custom-tailored for your specific condition.
A dermatologist may prescribe strong antibiotics or retinoids, administer corticosteroid injections that can remove cysts within 5 days, or give you a battery of topical ointments and oral supplements.
Seeing a dermatologist is not a guarantee, though, that your cystic acne will be automatically cleared up.
Whatever the mode of treatment, you will need a lot of patience when you're treating acne cysts.
Compared to other types of acne, they take longer to heal and can leave the worst scarring.
If you're unsure what to do, acne treatment reviews can help you better discern which treatments and products may work better for your specific acne type.
Unlike whiteheads, blackheads, and pustules, they are very noticeable and can cause the most scarring and damage.
That is why treating cystic acne should not be taken lightly.
What are your treatment options for acne cysts? Read this guide to find out more.
Option 1: Strong Spot Treatments Spot treatments are good for the common pimple or zit, but for acne cysts you will need a strong spot treatment with a higher concentration.
This is because acne cysts are larger in area as well as deeper in the skin.
Instead of reaching out for the usual 2.
5% benzoyl peroxide spot cream, you will have to use a 10% ointment.
And apply it more liberally too - just a small amount may not make it to the deeper areas of skin where the cyst resides.
Because these spot treatments are stronger, a tradeoff is that you might get drier, more irritated skin.
Option 2: Tretinoin Creams Topical solutions that contain tretinoin, retinoic acid, or isotretinoin may work for moderate pimples but may have mixed results for more severe cysts.
Just like spot treatments they help relieve the redness and inflammation in cysts.
This may not be enough for more severe acne, though.
People also report an initial breakout before their effects are fully noticed.
You will also have to keep off the sun when using these - they may make your pimple areas darker and more irritated.
Option 3: Antibiotics Antibiotic creams and ointments kill the bacteria that cause swelling and pus formation in acne cysts and effectively speed up healing.
A downside is that they are relatively more expensive and require a prescription.
With constant use bacteria may also develop a resistance to antibiotics.
This is quite scary as later illnesses (and not just acne) may become harder to treat.
Option 4: Vitamin Supplements For severe cystic acne, vitamin supplements are an effective complement to topical solutions.
These supplements usually contain vitamins to control oil production that causes acne in the first place.
They may also contain other ingredients like zinc and antioxidants to counter inflammation and redness and speed up the skin healing process.
Examples of these are Accutane with vitamin A and Clear5 with vitamin B5.
When used in combination with topical treatments you can get better results within a smaller period of time.
Option 5: Professional Help If your cystic acne is more severe and covers a great part of your face, it is best to see a dermatologist.
Professional treatment may be quite expensive but it is most effective and custom-tailored for your specific condition.
A dermatologist may prescribe strong antibiotics or retinoids, administer corticosteroid injections that can remove cysts within 5 days, or give you a battery of topical ointments and oral supplements.
Seeing a dermatologist is not a guarantee, though, that your cystic acne will be automatically cleared up.
Whatever the mode of treatment, you will need a lot of patience when you're treating acne cysts.
Compared to other types of acne, they take longer to heal and can leave the worst scarring.
If you're unsure what to do, acne treatment reviews can help you better discern which treatments and products may work better for your specific acne type.